NEW DELHI: Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul hailed centurion Marcus Stoinis for his tactical acumen, crediting his brilliant batting display in guiding the team to a sensational six-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk Stadium.
Stoinis' masterful innings orchestrated LSG's comeback from a challenging position, maintaining their supremacy over the Yellow Army in IPL 2024.
Reflecting on the victory during the post-match presentation, Rahul expressed his delight at overcoming adversity.
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"Very special, especially when it is a game like that. We were way behind the game when we were batting so it was very special to pull it off," remarked Rahul, acknowledging the significance of the win under testing circumstances.
Rahul reserved high praise for Stoinis's exemplary performance, highlighting his strategic approach and calculated shot selection.
"Full credit to Stoinis. It was not just power-hitting, it was very clever batting. He picked his bowlers and played very well," emphasized Rahul, underscoring Stoinis's pivotal role in the team's triumph.
Discussing the decision to elevate Stoinis to number three in the batting order, Rahul emphasized the importance of capitalizing on the powerplay overs.
"We felt like we needed to be braver and capitalize the powerplay (decision to send Stoinis at three) and needed a power-hitter in the top three," explained Rahul, emphasizing the team's strategic shift to adapt to the evolving demands of modern T20 cricket.
1/10:Ton-up Stoinis helps LSG beat CSK
AFP
2/10:Ton-up Stoinis LSG beat CSK
AFP
3/10:Marcus Stoinis
<p>Australia's Marcus Stoinis hit an unbeaten 124 as Lucknow Super Giants chased down a target of 211 with six wickets and three balls to spare against Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday. </p>AFP
4/10:Maiden IPL ton
<p>It was Stoinis' first IPL century and his second in T20 cricket, trumping an unbeaten 108 by Chennai skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. </p>AP
5/10:3 balls to spare
<p>Lucknow looked in trouble at 88-3 after 11 overs but Stoinis put on 70 runs with Nicholas Pooran, (34) and an unbeaten 65-run stand with Deepak Hooda to achieve victory in 19.3 overs. </p>TNN
6/10:56-ball ton
<p>Stoinis reached his hundred in 56 balls as he and Hooda (17*), secured Lucknow's second straight win over Chennai, replacing the five-time winners in fourth spot. </p>AP
7/10:Smash Stoinis
<p>Needing 17 to win in the final over, Stoinis smashed Mustafizur Rahman for a six and three fours, including one off a no ball, to register the highest score by a batsman while chasing in the IPL. </p>AFP
8/10:63-ball knock
<p>Stoinis walked in in the first over after Quinton de Kock's departure for a duck and paced his innings to perfection as he hit 13 fours and six sixes in his 63-ball knock. </p>TNN
9/10:56-ball ton
<p>Gaikwad took on the opposition attack despite losing Ajinkya Rahane and Daryl Mitchell and raised his hundred from 56 balls with a six and four. </p>AP
10/10:3rd CSK player
<p>Gaikwad became only the third Chennai player after Murali Vijay and Shane Watson to hit two IPL tons and moved to second in this season's batting chart with 349 runs. </p>AFPRecognizing the changing dynamics of T20 cricket, Rahul highlighted the need for aggression and depth in batting line-ups.
"I have realized that T20 cricket has changed in the past couple of years, 170-180 does not always cut it. You need to go harder in the powerplay and the impact player rule also gives you a bit more depth," observed Rahul, emphasizing the importance of proactive approaches in the format.
Rahul also acknowledged his own improved batting form this season, attributing it to his adaptability and recent experiences in T20 cricket. His aggressive contributions have been instrumental in LSG's success, further solidifying his stature as a pivotal figure in the team's campaign.
